Ted Jackson/The Times-Picayune archiveRep. Jim Fannin, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, said he's concerned about the number of contracts topping $1 million, listed as 59 contracts for the current year.

The confusion highlighted the difficulties state lawmakers and the Commission on Streamlining Government face trying to cut costs in state government by poring through spending for lawyers, architects, accountants, consultants, nonprofit organizations and more in the Education Department and other agencies.

"Some of these contracts we're just not going to be able to do anymore," said Rep. Eddie Lambert, R-Gonzales, chairman of an education panel of the House Appropriations Committee.

But Lambert acknowledged lawmakers don't have the time to scour all the contracts and haven't even gotten a handle on what's out there yet.

Figures presented to a House budget subcommittee showed the Education Department had entered into more than 6,000 contracts over the past six fiscal years, totaling $894 million. This year's contracts -- for the budget year that began July 1 -- were listed at $342 million for 566 contracts. The Department of Education has a $5.5 billion budget this year.

Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek said the contract numbers presented to the committee were misleading, because this year's total includes multiyear contracts with spending that extends before and beyond the current budget year.

George Silbernagel, a budget analyst with the House Fiscal Division, said it was difficult to divide the contracts by year, because of the way the department provided the requested information.

So, legislators told Pastorek they want him to give them clearer data, showing how much the department has spent on contracts each year, so they can determine if those costs are growing and by how much.

Lawmakers also told Pastorek they want him to propose ways to shrink his contract costs.

Rep. Jim Fannin, chairman of the Appropriations Committee, said he's concerned about the number of contracts topping $1 million, listed as 59 contracts for the current year.

Fannin, D-Jonesboro, told Pastorek to devise a plan by the end of March that would cut the costs of professional services contracts -- such as those for lawyers, architects and accountants -- by 25 percent next year.

Lambert said he wants a proposal that would cut the broader category of consulting contracts, as well. "You just do not have the money to fund all of these," he said.

Contracts became a flashpoint during hearings conducted by the Commission on Streamlining Government, a panel charged by the governor and lawmakers with recommending ways to cut state spending. Members of the commission questioned education contracts to develop public relations campaigns, provide abstinence education and train new principals.

Pastorek defended the contracts as worthwhile spending. Some are needed to comply with federal mandates or state legislative requirements, and he said agencies were getting mixed messages when they are told to outsource and then challenged when they hire contractors.